Treating Diabetes-Related Heart Disease Naturally

Learn why natural alternatives for treating diabetes-related heart complications are best

If you have type 2 diabetes, you are at much higher risk of heart disease than someone without diabetes—even if you don’t have any other heart risk factors.

High glucose levels make the blood thicker and stickier, which impairs circulation and contributes to atherosclerosis—the process that leads to arterial disease.

If you have heart problems as a result of your diabetes, I urge you to immediately take the following steps:

• Stop smoking
• Eat a low-glycemic, diabetes-friendly diet
• Exercise regularly (Not only does walking lower glucose levels, it also gives your heart the workout it needs to stay in shape. Be sure to do it or some other form of exercise for at least 30–45 minutes most days of the week, along with three or more sessions of resistance or strength training.)
• Supplement with nutrients that help address the cardiovascular side effects of diabetes
• Understand the noninvasive clinical therapies for treating diabetes-related heart disease

You should also be closely monitored by your physician and/or a cardiologist. However, be aware that some of the most common conventional treatments for heart disease, such as angioplasty and bypass surgery, are ineffective and often unnecessary.

The fact is that patients with serious heart disease who are treated without surgical intervention have an annual death rate under 2 percent. It’s hard to improve upon a survival rate this high (over 98 percent per year). Bottom line, surgery cannot save the life of someone who isn’t going to die. But it can, and often does, make matters worse.

In some cases, conventional treatment may be necessary. But for the majority of people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, using safe, natural alternatives that address the underlying cause of the problem is far more effective.

More Dr. Whitaker Advice on Diabetes Complications

• Common diabetes complications
• Why diabetes puts you at greater risk for heart disease
• Essential heart health nutrients for people with type 2 diabetes